Apparatus for coupling dip tubes to extensions of valves for aerosol containers and the like

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS FOR COUPLING DIP TUBES TO THE EXTENSIONS OF VALVES FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE. THE APPARATUS INCLUDES A GUIDE MEANS FOR GUIDING A DIP TUBE TI AN AEROSOL VALVE OR THE LIKE, THIS GUIDE MEANS IS ADAPTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH A SOURCE OF COMPRESSED AIR WHICH DRIVES THE DIP TUBE THROUGH THE GUIDE MEANS TO AN AEROSOL VALVE OR THE LIKE CARRIED BY A SUITABLE SUPPORT MEANS WHICH POSITIONS THE VALVE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE GUIDE MEANS TO RECEIVE THE DIP TUBE PROPELLED BY THE COMPRESSED AIR. THE DIP TUBE MEANS FORMS PART OF AN INTERMITTENTLY ROTATED STRUCTURE PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF GUIDE TUBES WHICH INITIALLY RECEIVE THE DIP TUBE AND WITH A PLURALITY OF GROOVES ALIGNED WITH THE GUIDES AND RECEIVING THE DIP TUBES THEREFROM TO CONTINUE THE TRAVEL OF THE DIP TUBES TO THE AEROSOL VALVES. THE INTERMITTENTLY ROTATABLE STRUCTURE MOVES THE PLURALITY OF THE GUIDE TUBES AND GROOVES ALIGNED THEREWITH PAST A SERIES OF STATIONS ONE OF WHICH COMMUNICATES WITH THE SOURCE OF COMPRESSED AIR.

Oct. 5, 1971 e. GIUFFREDI 3,609,848

APPARATUS FOR COUPLING DIP TUBES TO EXTENSIONS OF VALVES FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE Filed July 25, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 "jaw/m; UM,

ATTORNEY 5 Oct. 5, 1971 G. GIUFFREDI 3,609,848

APPARATUS FOR COUPLING DIP TUBES TO EXTENSIONS OF VALVES FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE Filed July 25. 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet B INVENTOR MAM/m0 6 10mm! ATTORNEY S Oct. 5, 1971 G. GIUFFREDI APPARATUS FOR COUPLING DIP TUBES TO EXTENSIONS OF VALVES FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE Filed July 25. 1968 4. Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR MM/wew emf/{01 ATTORNEY 5 Oct. 5, 1971 G. GIUFFREDI 3,609,848

APPARATUS FOR COUPLING DIP TUBES To EXTENSIONS OF VALVES FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE Filed July 25. 1968 4. Sheets-Sheet 4 mvsmon MAMA/9L0 flll/f/WFD/ RNEY PS United States Eatent O U.S. Cl. 29-208 F 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for coupling dip tubes to the extensions of valves for aerosol containers and the like. The apparatus includes a guide means for guiding a dip tube to an aerosol valve or the like. This guide means is adapted to communicate with a source of compressed air which drives the dip tube through the guide means to an aerosol valve or the like carried by a suitable support means which positions the valve in alignment with the guide means to receive the dip tube propelled by the compressed air. The dip tube guide means forms part of an intermittently rotated structure provided with a plurality of guide tubes which initially receive the dip tube and with a plurality of grooves aligned with the guide tubes and receiving the dip tubes therefrom to continue the travel of the dip tubes to the aerosol valves. The intermittently rotatable structure moves the plurality of guide tubes and grooves aligned therewith past a series of stations one of which communicates with the source of compressed air.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for connecting to the normal extensions of aerosol container valves and the like a length of flexible tubing which in known manner dips into the fluid held in the container and serves to convey said fluid towards the valve and the discharge nozzle.

As is known, aerosol containers and the like include a valve through which the fluid contents are discharged, and a tube, generally of elastically deformable plastic, applied to a tubular extension from the valve itself. This extension has one or more projections, i.e. one or more parts which extend a certain distance radially relatively to a generally cylindrical section. This projection has a diameter exceeding that of the internal tube diameter, so that when the tube is forced on the extension it remains firmly affixed thereto.

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a method and device for applying tubes to such valve extensions easily and quickly.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic device which ensures a considerable saving of time and labour in the performance of a series of operations needed to provide connection of a pre-determined length of the clipping tube to an aerosol valve.

These objectives, together with others, will be better seen from the following description.

The apparatus method of the invention is characterised essentially by a source of compressed gas, by tube guiding means aflixable to said source, and by means for supporting the valve so that its extension is aligned with the tube retained in the guiding means, so that under the pneumatic pressure applied by the compressed gas the tube moves along the guiding means and is mounted on the valve extension.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus provided by the invention includes means for feeding the tube towards the guiding means, means for cutting a required length of tubing, means for supporting the valve with its extenice sion aligned with the length of tubing held in the guiding means, and by means for releasing the valve after its connection with the tube.

FIG. 1 shows a lateral view, with some parts indicated diagrammatically, of a machine in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section on enlarged scale on the line II-II in FIG. 1, with some parts removed for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a section on line IIIIII of FIG. 7 on a larger scale than FIG. 1 showing the rotary member and auxiliary means for firing the tubes on to the valves, with the stages of arrival and departure of the valves and of the finished product removed;

FIG. 4 is a section on line IVIV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail of a tube about to be mounted on a valve;

FIG. 6 is a detail similar to FIG. 5, after mounting of the tube;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the machine.

The machine illustrated in the attached drawing includes a framework 1 provided with legs 1A which support a coil 2 pivoted on supports integral with said framework, and from which unwinds a flexible tube 11 of plastic material intended for cutting by the machine itself into lengths each comprising a dip tube for an aerosol container. Each tube, as will be explained below, is connected by the machine to an aerosol container valve.

3, 4, '5 indicate three pivoted pulleys pivoted so as to rotate about their axes, on supports 101, 102 alfixed to said framework 1.

A flexible belt 6 passes over said pulleys 3, 4, 5, as shown especially in FIG. 1.

7 indicates a cog coaxial with pulley 3, and aflixed to shaft 103 of said pulley by means of a release means 104, known per se and whose details are not therefore shown.

The arrangement is such that when cog 7 rotates in a particular direction (indicated by F1 in FIGS. 1 and 2), the pulley 3 is forced to rotate in the same direction, while said pulley remains still when cog 7 rotates in the opposite direction.

8 indicates a chain which meshes along a certain arc with the teeth of cog 7. At one end (see FIGS. 1, 2), the chain 8 is affixed to a spring 9 retained in its turn on framework 1. An electric motor 105 supported by the same vframework 1 actuates a crank 10 (afiixed to the other end of chain 8) by means of a speed changer, e.g. with expansible pulleys 106, .107 provided with a control wheel 108, and by means of a reduction unit 1.10, e.g. a worm 111 and helical wheel 112, on whose shaft the crank 10 is keyed.

In order to change the path of chain 8, the crank 10 is preferably of the type wherein crank pin 113 can slide in a channel 114 by means of a screw 115 actuated by a knob 116, and housed in the body 117 of crank 10 as schematically shown in FIG. '2.

12 indicates a rigid tube (FIG. 1) affixed to framework 1, having one end at coil 2 and the other end near pulleys 4 and 5. Consequently the flexible tube 11 of plastic material which unwinds from coil 2 passes through tube 12 and thus arrives between said pulleys 4 and 5 so as to enter the groove in pulley 5, in contact with the section of belt 6 which as shown in FIG. 1 passes along an arc of said pulley 5.

During a certain phase of the rotation of crank 10, the chain 8, entrained by said crank causes the cog 7 to rotate through a certain angle, while spring 9 is stretched; during this phase the cog 7 rotates in the direction of arrow F1 and thus causes pulley 3 to rotate. In a succeeding phase of the rotation of crank 10, chain 8 is free to complete its return, which is effected through the force of spring 9, so that cog 7 completes a rotation in the opposite direction to that preceding. In this second phase the pulley 3 is not driven.

During the first phase however, in which pulley 3 rotates, the pulleys 4, 5 also rotate. The belt 6 which causes said pulleys 4, 5 to rotate, being in contact with the flexible tube 11 which, having emerged from the rigid tube 12, is in the groove of pulley 5, causes an entrainment of said flexible tube 11 which thus advances by a certain length. During the second phase wherein pulley 5 is still and hence also the belt 6 and pulleys 4, 5, the flexible tube 11 is not entrained.

13 indicates in general a rotating drum described in more detail below, and having a series of rigid tubes 14 integral with a Maltese cross 15; the drum is supported on the fixed framework by means of suitable bearings so as to be freely rotatable about its axis, relative to the framework (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3).

On the axis of the rotor 112 (FIG. 2) there is keyed a toothed wheel 118 which drives a wheel 120, by means of a chain 119, said wheel 120by means of a conical drive not shown in the drawings but diagrammatically represented at 121 in FIGS. 1, 2, 3driving a shaft which is integral with member 19, which can actuate the Maltese cross 15, by a member of teeth such that for each rotation thereof the drum rotates through an angle corresponding to the distance between two consecutive tubes 14.

The drum 13 thus turns intermittently. Every time it steps, a tube 14 therefrom is aligned with the length of tube 11 which is leaving the pulley 5. The movements of the members described above are so controlled that each time a tube 14 rests in this position, a length of flexible dip tube 11 impelled by the rotation of pulley 3 enters the tube 14.

Cutting means are also provided for separating the length of tube 11 entered into tube 14 from the rest of tube 11. This means (FIG. 3) comprises a circular blade 23 mounted on a shaft 122 idling in a seating disposed eccentrically in a socket 123 integral with one end of shaft 20'.

At the other end of shaft 122 is keyed a pinion 124 which meshes with a wheel 125 affixed to framework 1.

Thus in addition to rotating on itself the blade 23 completes a revolution about the axis of shaft 20 at each rotation of the latter. The components are so disposed that when the drum 13 is still, the blade 23 enters a channel between the plate 126 fixed to and integral with framework 1 and the plate 127 at the end of rotary drum 13, thus cutting the tube 11 which has entered the tube 14 present at the cutting station.

FIG. 3 shows in detail the construction of the drum 13 on a shaft 128 aflixed at the two ends to fixed plates 126,129. Plate 127, which carries a series of tubes 14 at equal intervals around its circumference, can rotate freely. At each release of the Maltese cross 15, each tube is carried into alignment with the aperture 130 in fixed plate 126 from which it receives the section of tube 11 cut by blade 23, and after a few releases it arrives above the aperture 131 which is connected by a conduit not shown in the drawing to a compressed air supply, also not shown. Plate 127 is integral with a tube 132 coaxial with shaft 128, said tube 132 carrying the Maltese cross 15 and also a sleeve 133 which is supported by bearings on the plate 134 integral with framework 1. A second plate 136 is integral with framework. 1 by means of members 135 and guides the end of a tubular prolongation 138 which is integral with tube 132. Along its exterior the cylinder 138 has axial channels 139 in continuation of tubes 14; a section of tube 11 driven by compressed air can thus travel through a tube 14 and a channel 139 when the latter is externally closed by an obturator bar 140 integral with the machine framework and shown diagrammatically in section in FIG. 4.

It is now clear that if an aerosol valve 141 is disposed at the top of cylinder 138, the section of tubing 11,

propelled by compressed air, will be threaded on to the valve. In practice (FIGS. 5, 6) the valve of the aerosol or other container comprises an extension 142 having a frusto-conical portion 143. The smaller base of this portion has a diameter less than the internal diameter of tube 11, while the larger base of the same frustoconical portion has a diameter substantially greater than said tube diameter. The valve 141 is put into a position wherein the frusto-conical portion is coaxial with one of the grooves 139. When a certain quantity of compressed air enters the tube 14 which is aligned at intervals with the compressed air inlet aperture 131, the tube 11 is impelled by the air, acquires a certain velocity, passes through the interior of tube 14 and groove 139 and grips on to the frusto-conical portion 143 of the extension 142 of valve 141.

In order to hold the valves 141 in a position of alignment with aperture 131, the cylinder 138 terminates in a plate 144 provided with bearings 145 for rotating on shaft 128 and with recesses 146 adapted to hold the valves (FIGS. 37).

The valves 141 (FIG. 7) are fed to the recesses 146 by one or more slideways 147 disposed downstream of the position where the lengths of tube are engaged. The valves are supplied by feeders known per se and not illustrated.

At its end opposite the cutting device the shaft 20 is supported by bearings 14 8 on plate 129. Beyond said plate the shaft 20 carries an eccentric 149 connected through a shaft 150 and joints 152 to a crank 151. This cran'k is afiixed to a rotary shaft 153 supported by plate 129. The shaft 153 projects beyond plate 129 and carries a pair of spaced arms 154, one just above and one just below the plate 144 (see FIG. '7).

At each rotation of shaft 20 the arms 154 thus perform an oscillation forwards and backwards, and expel on to the exit slideway 155 the valve already provided with its tube. For this purpose the arms bear on the projecting portions L and G of valve 141 (FIG. 5).

The operation of the machine is simple. The drum 13 moves at intervals, taking a tube 14 above the cutting station. A tube 11 is fed into tube 14 and cut. Assuming the drum rotates in the direction of arrow F2 (FIG. 7) and that the cutting station is at A, in the two succeeding stations B and C, the plate 144 receives from slideways 147 valves 141 without tubes. In the meantime the other tubes 14 are filled in correspondence with station A. No

operating phase is taking place at position D. When the.

tube reaches station E a cam (not shown) integral for instance with shaft 20, actuates a valve, also not illustrated, which connects the jet of compressed air to tube 14, firing the plastic tube 11 until it engages the extension 142 of valve 141.

The valve now fitted with its tube is now expelled at the subsequent station F. (It is noted that for simplicity of drawing it is assumed in FIG, 3 that the firing takes place at station D instead of station B.)

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for coupling dip tubes to extensions of valves for aerosol containers and the like, comprising dip tube guide means adapted to be connected with a source of compressed air, support means for supporting in alignment with said guide means a valve having an extension to which a diptube is to be coupled, said guide means comprising a plurality of guide tubes in which dip tubes are guided and a structure formed with a plurality of grooves aligned respectively with said guide tubes for receiving the dip tubes therefrom and continuing the guiding of the dip tubes to a valve extension, means for intermittently rotating said structure and the guide tubes aligned with the grooves thereof past a series of stations one of which communicates with the source of compressed air so that a dip tube in a guide tube situated at said one station will be propelled by compressed air from the latter guide tube along a groove aligned therewith to an extension of a valve carried by said support means.

2. Apparatus for coupling dip tubes to extensions of valves for aerosol containers and the like, comprising dip tube guide means adapted to be connected with a source of compressed air, support means for supporting in alignment with said guide means a valve having an extension to receive a dip tube propelled along said guide means by the compressed air, and feeding means for feeding a section of dip tube to said guide means, said feeding means comprising a continuous belt, a wheel over which said belt extends, a rotary crank operatively connected with said belt for advancing the belt, release means for intermittently releasing the drive from said crank to said belt, and a spring operatively connected to said belt for returning the belt to an initial position when the connection of said crank to said belt is released by said release 15 means so as to transmit unidirectional movement of a desired magnitude to said belt from said crank by said release means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,721,601 10/1955 Spencer.

2,800,702 7/ 1957 Abplanalp 2-9--33 2,916,811 12/1959 Whitecar 29-235 X 10 3,079,679 3/1963 Tullis 2-9235 CHARLIE T. MOON, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 29235, 2-37, 450 

